Khalil Gibran International Academy’s principal Debbie Almontaser, criticized for comments to The New York Post earlier this week that appeared to condone “Intifada NYC” T-shirts, has resigned, according the New York City Department of Education.
The controversial shirts are sold by the youth organization Arab Women Active in Arts and Media (AWAAM) that operates out of the same office where Ms. Almontaser works on the board of SABA, the Association of Yemeni-Americans.
Khalil Gibran -- the first public school that will expose upper-school students to Middle Eastern language and culture – is slated to open in September at 345 Dean Street in Boerum Hill, sharing space with Brooklyn High School of the Arts and the Math and Science Exploratory School.
“This morning I tendered my resignation to Chancellor Klein, which he accepted,” Ms. Almontaser said in a statement Thursday. “I became convinced yesterday that this week’s headlines were endangering the viability of Khalil Gibran International Academy, even though I apologized. I have spent the last two years of my nearly 15 years with the Department working to create the unique educational opportunities that the school will offer. I will not allow the recent outcry to undermine these possibilities for the children of our city.”
School’s Chancellor Klein issued a statement saying: “I accept the resignation of Debbie Almontaser, founder of Khalil Gibran International Academy. Debbie brought to the work of creating the school strong dedication and a commitment to the success of all of New York City’s children. She reflected that commitment by stepping aside as the school’s leader when controversy about her remarks threatened to destabilize the school. I continue to believe that an Arabic dual language program, much like our other successful dual language programs, offers unique preparation for the global marketplace, and I remain committed to the success of Khalil Gibran International Academy.”
T-Shirts With Inflamatory Connotation
The term “intifada” is usually associated with the call to violence among some Palestinians against Israelis.
Rather than immediately denounce the shirts, Almontaser initially tried to explain that “intifada” literally means “shaking off” and the shirts represented women “shaking off” oppression. As the political implications became clear, however, she condemned the T-shirt’s apparent connection to Palestinian terrorism.
A release put out by the members of AWAAM tries to explain their particular usage of the word “intifada": “‘Intifada NYC’ is a call for empowerment, service, civic participation and critical thinking in our communities: a ‘shaking off’ of discrimination and prejudice and an embracing of our roles as producers rather than simply objects of the mass media and public discourse.”
The statement went on to say that AWAAM members were “shocked to find themselves at the receiving end of attacks by anti-Arab bloggers and press who are using a T-shirt to try to aggravate hysteria against Arab and Muslim communities.” The group said that in addition to being incorrectly labeled a “Muslim group” and “pro-violence,” the organization “has sustained an illegal attack by hackers on its web site.”
Loss of Support From Randi Weingarten
In a letter published in the New York Post Thursday United Federation of Teacher’s Randi Weingarten, wrote: “Both parents and teachers have a right to be concerned about children attending a school run by someone who doesn’t immediately denounce campaigns or ideas tied to violence.”
This is just the latest in a string of difficulties experienced by the fledgling public school.
While Khalil Gibran is being founded with the full support of well-established community, religious and educational organizations, extremists from around the country are attempting to portray the school as a training ground for Islamic-style terror, backed by shadowy militant groups.
PipelineNews.org, often quoted on other web sites and blogs, set off an outcry among its readers with an article called “New York Set to Open a Public Jihad School.” In it, author Daniel Pipes claims that “promoting Islamist sympathies will predictably make up the school’s true curriculum.”
The New York Sun ran a column by Alicia Colon entitled “Madrassa Plan Is Monstrosity.” She called for readers to “break out the torches and surround City Hall to stop this monstrosity.”
On Friday, the Post said that only 44 students had enrolled so far, though there are 60 seats. Of these, only six students are Arabic speakers, plus one English-language learner.
The DOE had originally planned to site Khalil Gibran at a Park Slope elementary school, P.S. 282. The move faced vociferous objections from parents who objected to overcrowding and mixing their young children with older students. After reconsidering, the DOE chose its present Boerum Hill location. The school will remain at 345 Dean Street for two years, after which it will move to a permanent location.
